WO2010061176A1

WO2010061176A1 - Organic semiconductors

Info

Publication number: WO2010061176A1
Application number: PCT/GB2009/002735
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tania Zuberi; Sheena Zuberi
Original assignee: Cambridge Display Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Cambridge Display Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2008-11-28
Filing date: 2009-11-27
Publication date: 2010-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-28
Also published as: KR20110102377A; TW201030049A; US9175212B2; US20110250719A1; JP5642083B2; KR101788329B1; GB0821703D0; DE112009003593T5; TWI466916B; GB2465626A; GB2465626B; CN102227484A; CN102227484B; JP2012510454A

Abstract

An organic semiconducting compound comprising the structure of formula (I) : where Ar_1, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ independently comprise monocyclic aromatic rings and at least one of Ar₁, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ is substituted with at least one substituent X, which in each occurrence may be the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of (i) optionally substituted straight, branched or cyclic alkyl chains with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy, amino, amido, silyl or alkenyl, or (ii) a polymerisable or reactive group selected from the group consisting of halogens, boronic acids, diboronic acids and esters of boronic acids and diboronic acids, alkylene groups and stannyl groups, and where Ar₁, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ may each optionally be fused to one or more further rings. The organic semiconducting compound is used as an active layer in an organic semiconducting device such as a thin film transistor.

Description

Organic Semiconductors

The present invention relates generally to organic semiconductor materials and in particular to organic semiconductors for forming part of a thin film transistor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Transistors can be divided into two main types: bipolar junction transistors and field-effect transistors. Both types share a common structure comprising three electrodes with a semiconductive material disposed there between in a channel region. The three electrodes of a bipolar junction transistor are known as the emitter, collector and base, whereas in a field- effect transistor the three electrodes are known as the source, drain and gate. Bipolar junction transistors may be described as current-operated devices as the current between the emitter and collector is controlled by the current flowing between the base and emitter. In contrast, field-effect transistors may be described as voltage-operated devices as the current flowing between source and drain is controlled by the voltage between the gate and the source.

Transistors can also be classified as p-type and n-type according to whether they comprise semiconductive material which conducts positive charge carriers (holes) or negative charge carriers (electrons) respectively. The semiconductive material may be selected according to its ability to accept, conduct, and donate charge. The ability of the semiconductive material to accept, conduct and donate holes or electrons can be enhanced by doping the material.

For example, a p-type transistor device can be formed by selecting a semiconductive material which is efficient at accepting, conducting, and donating holes, and selecting a material for the source and drain electrodes which is efficient at injecting and accepting holes from the semiconductive material. Good energy-level matching of the Fermi-level in the electrodes with the HOMO level of the semiconductive material can enhance hole injection and acceptance. In contrast, an n-type transistor device can be formed by selecting a semiconductive material which is efficient at accepting, conducting, and donating electrons, and selecting a material for the source and drain electrodes which is efficient at injecting electrons into, and accepting electrons from, the semiconductive material. Good energy- level matching of the Fermi-level in the electrodes with the LUMO level of the semiconductive material can enhance electron injection and acceptance. Transistors can be formed by depositing the components in thin films to form a thin film transistor (TFT). When an organic material is used as the semiconductive material in such a device, it is known as an organic thin film transistor (OTFT).

OTFTs may be manufactured by low cost, low temperature methods such as solution processing. Moreover, OTFTs are compatible with flexible plastic substrates, offering the prospect of large-scale manufacture of OTFTs on flexible substrates in a roll-to-roll process. With reference to Figure 4, the general architecture of a bottom-gate organic thin film transistor (OTFT) comprises a gate electrode 12 deposited on a substrate 10. An insulating layer 11 of dielectric material is deposited over the gate electrode 12 and source and drain electrodes 13, 14 are deposited over the insulating layer 11 of dielectric material. The source and drain electrodes 13, 14 are spaced apart to define a channel region therebetween located over the gate electrode 12. An organic semiconductor (OSC) material 15 is deposited in the channel region for connecting the source and drain electrodes 13, 14. The OSC material 15 may extend at least partially over the source and drain electrodes 13, 14.

Alternatively, it is known to provide a gate electrode at the top of an organic thin film transistor to form a so-called top-gate organic thin film transistor. In such an architecture, source and drain electrodes are deposited on a substrate and spaced apart to define a channel region there between. A layer of an organic semiconductor material is deposited in the channel region to connect the source and drain electrodes and may extend at least partially over the source and drain electrodes. An insulating layer of dielectric material is deposited over the organic semiconductor material and may also extend at least partially over the source and drain electrodes. A gate electrode is deposited over the insulating layer and located over the channel region. An organic thin film transistor can be fabricated on a rigid or flexible substrate. Rigid substrates may be selected from glass or silicon and flexible substrates may comprise thin glass or plastics such as poly(ethylene-terephthalate) (PET), poly(ethylene-naphthalate) (PEN), polycarbonate and polyimide.

The organic semiconductive material may be made solution processable through the use of a suitable solvent. Exemplary solvents include mono- or poly-alkylbenzenes such as toluene and xylene; tetralin; and chloroform. Preferred solution deposition techniques include spin coating and ink jet printing. Other solution deposition techniques include dip-coating, roll printing and screen printing.

The length of the channel defined between the source and drain electrodes may be up to 500 microns, but preferably the length is less than 200 microns, more preferably less than 100 microns, most preferably less than 20 microns.

The gate electrode can be selected from a wide range of conducting materials for example a metal (e.g. gold) or metal compound (e.g. indium tin oxide). Alternatively, conductive polymers may be deposited as the gate electrode. Such conductive polymers may be deposited from solution using, for example, spin coating or ink jet printing techniques and other solution deposition techniques discussed above. The insulating layer comprises a dielectric material selected from insulating materials having a high resistivity. The dielectric constant, k, of the dielectric is typically around 2-3 although materials with a high value of k are desirable because the capacitance that is achievable for an OTFT is directly proportional to k, and the drain current ID is directly proportional to the capacitance. Thus, in order to achieve high drain currents with low operational voltages, OTFTs with thin dielectric layers in the channel region are preferred.

The dielectric material may be organic or inorganic. Preferred inorganic materials include SiO₂, SiN_x and spin-on-glass (SOG). Preferred organic materials are generally polymers and include insulating polymers such as poly vinylalcohol (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidine (PVP), acrylates such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), fluorinated polymers and benzocyclobutanes (BCBs) available from Dow Corning. The insulating layer may be formed from a blend of materials or comprise a multi-layered structure.

The dielectric material may be deposited by thermal evaporation, vacuum processing or lamination techniques as are known in the art. Alternatively, the dielectric material may be deposited from solution using, for example, spin coating or ink jet printing techniques and other solution deposition techniques discussed above. If the dielectric material is deposited from solution onto the organic semiconductor, it should not result in dissolution of the organic semiconductor. Likewise, the dielectric material should not be dissolved if the organic semiconductor is deposited onto it from solution. Techniques to avoid such dissolution include: use of orthogonal solvents for example use of a solvent for deposition of the uppermost layer that does not dissolve the underlying layer; and cross linking of the underlying layer.

The thickness of the insulating layer is preferably less than 2 micrometres, more preferably less than 500 nm.

Organic semiconductors are a class of organic molecules having extensively conjugated pi systems allowing for the movement of electrons.

Preferred methods for preparation of these molecules are Suzuki reactions (coupling or polymerisation reactions) as described in, for example, WO 2000/53656 and Yamamoto polymerisation as described in, for example, T. Yamamoto, "Electrically Conducting And Thermally Stable pi-Conjugated Poly(arylene)s Prepared by Organometallic Processes", Progress in Polymer Science 1993, 17, 1153-1205. These techniques both operate via a "metal insertion" wherein the metal atom of a metal complex catalyst is inserted between an aryl group and a leaving group of a monomer. In the case of Yamamoto polymerisation, a nickel complex catalyst is used; in the case of Suzuki reaction, a palladium complex catalyst is used. For example, in the synthesis of a linear polymer by Yamamoto polymerisation, a monomer having two reactive halogen groups is used. Similarly, according to the method of Suzuki reaction, at least one reactive group is a boron derivative group such as a boronic acid or boronic ester and the other reactive group is a halogen. Preferred halogens are chlorine, bromine and iodine, most preferably bromine.

Alternatively, stannyl groups may be used as reactive groups in polymerisation or coupling reactions (Stille reactions).

The performance of organic semiconductors is typically assessed by measurement of its "charge mobility" (cm² V ¹S^"1), which may relate to either the mobility of holes or electrons. This measurement relates to the drift velocity of charge carriers to an applied electric field across a material.

Organic semiconductors having relatively high mobilities tend to be those which comprise compounds having a rigid planar structure with extensive conjugation which allows for efficient and effective pi-pi stacking in the solid state.

WO 2007/068618 describes a variety of organic semiconductors, each comprising an array of fused aromatic rings having a central benzene ring substituted with acetylene groups. JP 2007/088222 and WO 2007/116660 describe the use of benzodithiophenes and its derivatives in small molecule, oligomeric and polymeric form, as organic semiconductors.

However, the increased level of conjugation required to allow compounds to form such a pi-pi stack may also result in a decrease in band gap and stability of the semiconductor, leading to poor performance and a short lifetime. Moreover, these compounds may be highly insoluble due to the size of molecule required to achieve extended conjugation, which poses particular problems in synthesis and renders their use in efficient transistor production methods, such as ink-jet printing, difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an organic semiconductor having high mobility, good solubility and good stability (in particular stability in the ambient environment such as stability to oxidation).

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to an organic semiconducting device comprising an organic semiconducting compound of formula (I):

where Ar₁, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ independently comprise monocyclic aromatic rings and at least one of Ar₁, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ is substituted with at least one substituent X, which in each occurrence may be the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of (i) optionally substituted straight, branched or cyclic alkyl chains with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy, amino, amido, silyl or alkenyl, or (ii) a polymerisable or reactive group selected from the group consisting of halogens, boronic acids, diboronic acids and esters of boronic acids and diboronic acids, alkylene groups and stannyl groups, and where Ar₁, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ may each optionally be fused to one or more further rings. The groups Ar₁, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ may be carbocyclic or heterocyclic aromatics. Preferably Ar₁, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ are independently benzene or thiophene.

Preferably, a plurality of substituents X is provided. It is preferred that at least one non-terminal ring (Ar₁ or Ar₂) is substituted. In one preferred embodiment, at least two substituents X are provided on the same aromatic ring, preferably Ar₁.

The strategically positioned substituent groups X described above provide enhanced solubility, allowing the compound to be solution processed. Moreover, these substituent groups allow the mesogenic region of the compound to self-align into regioregular structures of close-packed lamellar sheets.

Preferred substituent groups for solubilisation are alkyl groups, preferably C₄-C₁₈ alkyl, most preferably octy, decyl and hexydecyl.

Meanwhile, the large, rigid coplanar structures provided by compounds of the invention give extended pi-conjugation and increased inter- and intramolecular mobility.

Preferably, some or all Of Ar₂ to Ar₄ comprise heterocyclic aromatic groups. The compound of formula (I) may be fused to one or more further aryl groups. Thus, in one preferred embodiment, a further aryl group Ar₅ is fused with Ar₃ to provide a structure:

The further aryl group Ar⁵ may comprise a heterocyclic aromatic group. In this case, substituents X are preferably provided at least on one or more of the non-terminal aryl groups Ar₁, Ar₂ and Ar₃.

Each of Ar₄ and Ars is optionally substituted.

In certain embodiments, Ar₄ may be fused to a further aryl system Ar₆ to provide a structure:

III

which aryl system Ar₆ is optionally substituted and may comprise a heterocyclic aromatic group. In this case, substituents X are preferably provided on one or more of the non-terminal aryl groups Ari, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄.

In some embodiments, Ar₅ is fused to a further aryl system Ar₇ to provide a structure:

where the aryl system Ar₇ is optionally substituted and may comprise a heterocyclic aromatic group.

In this case, substituents X are preferably provided on one or more of the non-terminal aryl groups Ari, Ar₂, Ar₃, Ar₄ and Ar₅.

The above structures illustrate compounds having from 4 to 7 fused rings, however it will be appreciated that yet further rings may be fused to these compounds to form compounds having conjugation extending across 8 or more fused rings.

Preferably, structure II comprises:

where Zi and Z₂ are independently S, O, Se or NR; Wi and W₂ are independently S, O, Se, NR or -CR=CR-; R is H or a substituent group; and Xi and X₂, which may be the same or different, are selected from substituents X.

Preferably, the structure IV comprises the structure:

where Vi and V₂ are independently S, O, Se, NR, NR or -CR=CR-.

More preferably, the structure IV comprises the structure:

Preferably, one or both of the terminal aryl groups of structures I to IV is substituted with one or more substituent groups X one of which groups comprises a reactive or polymerisable group or optionally substituted straight, branched or cyclic alkyl chains having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy, amino, amido, silyl, alkyl or alkenyl, the remaining groups independently comprising hydrogen or optionally substituted straight, branched or cyclic alkyl chains having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy, amino, amido, silyl, alkyl or alkenyl.

The reactive or polymerisable groups preferably independently comprise such moieties as halogens; boronic acids, diboronic acids and esters of boronic acids and diboronic acids; alkylene groups; and stannyl groups.

The terminal aryl groups represent aryl groups fused to just one other aryl group, for example, structure III has terminal aryl groups Ar₄ and Ar₃, while structure IV has terminal aryl groups Ar₆ and Ar₇. For instance, structure IV may comprise the structure:

wherein Xi - Xi₀, which may be the same or different, are selected from substituents X described above.

In some embodiments, the compound comprises a small molecule comprising any of structures I to IV. In other embodiments, the compound may comprise an oligomer or a polymer having a repeat unit comprising any of structures I to IV. In one embodiment, the organic semiconducting device is a thin film transistor.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to an optical device comprising a thin film transistor as described herein. In one embodiment of the second aspect the optical device is an organic electroluminescent device. In another embodiment the optical device is a photo responsive device such as a photovoltaic device or a photo sensor.

In a third aspect, the invention provides an organic semiconducting compound comprising one or more of the structures I to IV.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a solution for forming a thin film transistor, the solution having a solute comprising a compound comprising one or more of structures I to IV and a solvent. Preferably, the solvent is selected from the group comprising substituted benzenes, preferably benzene substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen and alkyl, for example tetralin, n-butylbenzene, toluene, chlorobenzene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene.

Preferably, the concentration of the compound of formula (I) is more than 0.5 % weight per volume, preferably 1.0% w/v and most preferably 2.0% w/v. This concentration may be achieved by the provision of solubilising groups X. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for forming a transistor comprising applying a solution having a solute comprising a compound comprising any of structures I to IV onto a substrate. Preferably, the solution is applied by ink-jet printing.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for synthesising a semiconductive compound, the method comprising fusing one or more further aryl groups to a compound comprising the structure:

where Z₁ and Z₂ are independently S, O, Se or NR , where R is H or a substituent group, and Xi and X₂ independently comprise one of (i) optionally substituted straight, branched or cyclic alkyl chains with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy, amino, amido, silyl or alkenyl, wherein 2 or more substituents X may be linked to form a ring or (ii) a polymerisable or reactive group selected from the group consisting of halogens, boronic acids, diboronic acids and esters of boronic acids and diboronic acids, alkylene groups and stannyl groups.; and wherein the one or more of the further aryl groups may be heterocyclic.

Preferably, structures I-IV are synthesized by means of a Suzuki reaction - this is desirable because it avoids the problems of metallic catalyst residues and delicate reaction conditions associated with other methods- followed by an acid induced intramolecular cyclization reaction. Exemplary compounds according to the present invention include the following:

wherein X₁₁ - X₁₃, which may be the same or different, are selected from substituents X described above.

Polymerisation of these compounds, if desired, may be performed using techniques such as Suzuki, Stillie or Yamamoto polymerization. Exemplary polymers formed by such polymerization are as follows:

BRIEF DESRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a synthesis of a compound according to the invention, as also described in Intermediates 1 to 4 and Example 1.

Figure 2 shows performance data for an organic field effect transistor device of Example 3, which includes the semiconductor synthesised in Example 1.

Figure 3 shows performance data for an organic field effect transistor device of Example 3, which includes the semiconductor synthesised in Example 1.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a general architecture of a bottom-gate organic thin film transistor according to the prior art;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a pixel comprising an organic thin film transistor and an adjacent organic light emitting device fabricated on a common substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention; and,

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an organic thin film transistor fabricated in a stacked relationship to an organic light emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Throughout the following description like reference numerals shall be used to identify like parts. Organic semiconductors according to the present invention may be manufactured by means of a Suzuki coupling reaction followed by an acid induced intramolecular cyclization reaction as described below [Figurel].

Intermediate 1

A solution of 3-bromothiophene (10Og, 0.61mol) in diethyl ether (750ml) under nitrogen was cooled to -78⁰C and n-butyllithium (294.4ml, 0.74mmol, 2.5M in hexanes) added drop wise. After stirring for a further 20 minutes at this temperature, the mixture was transferred via cannula to an ice cool solution of methyldisulfide (144.3g, 1.53mmol) in diethyl ether (550ml); the reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred at this temperature for a further 12hrs. Water (500ml) was added and the organic layer separated, washed with water, dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated under reduced pressure. Distillation of the crude product gave Intermediate 1 as a yellow oil (43.1g, 54%, 7O⁰C, 15mmHg).

Intermediate 2

SMe ft To a stirred solution of Intermediate 1 (42g, 0.32mol) in acetic acid (200ml) at 15⁰C, was added N-bromosuccinimide (57.4g, 0.32mol) portion wise at such a rate so as to maintain the temperature between 15⁰C and 17⁰C. The resulting mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature overnight, poured into water and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic phase was washed with water, saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by column chromatography (silica gel, hexane) gave Intermediate 2 as colourless oil (32g, 48%).

Intermediate 3

To a solution of Intermediate 2 (18g, 86.1mmol) in dichloromethane (360ml) at O⁰C, was added 3-chloro-perbenzoic acid (31.2g, 90.4mmol, 50- 55%) portion wise and the resulting solution allowed to stir at room temperature for 12hrs. The reaction mixture was washed with aqueous Na₂CO₃, dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated under reduced pressure to give Intermediate 3 as an yellow oil (15.2g, 78%). This was used without any further purification. ¹H NMR (CDCI₃, 400MHz) δ_ppm 7.44 (IH, d, J = 6.3Hz), 7.36 (IH, d, J = 6.3Hz), 2.80 (3H, s).

Intermediate 4

A solution of Intermediate 3 (11.2g, 49.75mmol) and 2,5-dioctylphenylene- l,4-bis(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-l,3,2-dioxaborolate)(12g, 21.66mmol) in toluene was degassed with nitrogen for lhr. Pd(PPh₃)4 (l-25g, 0.05mol%)was added followed by a solution of K₂CO₃ (10%, 8.97g, 64.90mmol) and a few drops of Aliquat 336 after a further 5mins and the mixture allowed to stir at reflux for 24hrs. The mixture was diluted with toluene, the aqueous phase separated, and the organics filtered through celite, washed with water, dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by column chromatography (silca gel, 10% methanol/dichloromethane) gave intermediate 4 as a beige solid (10.3g, HPLC 82%) which was used without further purification. ¹H NMR (CDCI₃, 400MHz) δpp_m 7.60 (2H, d, J=5.9Hz), 7.53 (2H, d, J = 5.9Hz), 7.14 (2H, s), 2.70 (6H, s), 2.52 (4H. m), 1.48 (4H, m), 1.20 (2OH, m), 0.85 (6H, t, J=7.4Hz).

Example 1

A solution of Intermediate 4 (Ig, 1.69mmol) in Eaton's Reagent (7ml) was stirred at room temperature in the dark for 48hrs. The dark green solution was poured into ice-water (100ml) and the resulting sticky brown solid dissolved in pyridine (60ml) and the solution stirred at reflux for 18hrs. The mixture was cooled, poured into dichloromethane (600ml) and washed thoroughly with 2M HCI and water, it was then dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by column chromatography (silica gel, 5% dichloromethane:hexane) gave Example 1 as a white solid (240mg, 35%, HPLC 99.6%); mp (DSC) 126.5⁰C; ¹H NMR (CDCI3, 400MHz) δ_ppm 7.57 (2H, d, J=4.8Hz), 7.37 (2H, d, J=4.8Hz), 3.27 (4H, t, J=8Hz), 1.85 (4H, m), 1.61 (4H. m), 1.40 (4H, m), 1.30 (12H, m), 0.88 (6H, t, J = 7.4Hz).

Example 2 was synthesized in a similar manner to that described for Example 1 by means of a Suzuki coupling reaction followed by an acid induced intramolecular cyclization reaction.

Example 3 Organic field effect transistor devices using compound of Example 1 as the active layer were fabricated in a top gate, bottom contact device. Gold source drain contacts were defined by lift off on a glass substrate. Channel lengths of 10-200μm and widths of 2mm were defined. Devices were fabricated by spin-coating the compound of example 1, onto the cleaned substrates from a 2% tetralin solution at lOOOrpm for 60seconds. The film was subsequently dried on a hotplate at 8O⁰C for lOmins and cooled on a metal block for 1 minute. A fluorinated dielectric material was spin-coated from a fluorosolvent on to the semiconductor layer, dried on a hotplate at 8O⁰C for lOmins and cooled on a metal block for lmin. The highest mobility in saturation observed was 0.71cm²/Vs at lOOμm channel length. An on/off ratio of ~10⁴ was obtained. A contact resistance of 27 kOhm-cm was calculated by the extrapolation method at -40V Vg or a gate field of 16V/100nm [figure 2].

Example 4

Organic field effect transistor devices using compound of Example 2 as the active layer were fabricated in a top gate, bottom contact device. Gold source drain contacts were defined by lift off on a glass substrate. Channel lengths of 10-200μm and widths of 2mm were defined. Devices were fabricated by spin-coating the compound of example 2, onto the cleaned substrates, from a 2% 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene solution at lOOOrpm for 60secs, the semiconductor solution, substrate and spin coater chuck were all raised to elevated temperatures (8O⁰C) immediately prior to the spin coating step of the material. The film was subsequently dried on a hotplate at 80⁰C for 5mins and cooled on a metal block for lmin. A fluorinated dielectric material was spin-coated from a fluorosolvent on to the semiconductor layer, dried on a hotplate at 8O⁰C for lOmins and cooled on a metal block for lmin. The highest mobility in saturation observed was 0.05cm²/Vs at 50μm channel length. An on/off ratio of 10^"5 was obtained. A contact resistance of 180 kOhm-cm was calculated by the extrapolation method at -40V Vg or a gate field of 16V/100nm [Figure 3].

The resulting compounds are easily soluble and may thus be applied by ink- jet printing onto a substrate to provide the semiconducting layer 15 in a thin film transistor such as is shown in Figure 4.

An application of such an organic thin film transistor (OTFT) may be to drive pixels in an optical device, preferably an organic optical device. Examples of such optical devices include photoresponsive devices, in particular photodetectors, and light-emissive devices, in particular organic light emitting devices. OTFTs are particularly suited for use with active matrix organic light emitting devices, e.g. for use in display applications.

Figure 5 shows a pixel comprising an organic thin film transistor 100 and an adjacent organic light emitting device (OLED) 102 fabricated on a common substrate 104. The OTFT 100 comprises gate electrode 106, dielectric layer 108, source and drain electrodes 110 and 112 respectively, and OSC layer 114. The OLED 102 comprises anode 116, cathode 118 and an electroluminescent layer 120 provided between the anode 116 and cathode 118. Further layers may be located between the anode 116 and cathode 118, such as charge transporting, charge injecting or charge blocking layers. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the layer of cathode material 118 extends across both the OTFT 100 and the OLED 102, and an insulating layer 122 is provided to electrically isolate the cathode layer 118 from the OSC layer 114. The active areas of the OTFT 100 and the OLED 102 are defined by a common bank material formed by depositing a layer of photoresist 124 on substrate 104 and patterning it to define OTFT 100 and OLED 102 areas on the substrate.

In Figure 5, the drain electrode 112 is directly connected to the anode 116 of the organic light emitting device 102 for switching the organic light emitting device 102 between emitting and non-emitting states.

In an alternative arrangement illustrated in Figure 6, an organic thin film transistor 200 may be fabricated in a stacked relationship to an organic light emitting device 202. In such an embodiment, the organic thin film transistor 202 is built up as described above in either a top or bottom gate configuration. As with the embodiment of Figure 5, the active areas of the OTFT 200 and OLED 202 are defined by a patterned layer of photoresist 124, however in this stacked arrangement, there are two separate bank layers 124 - one for the OLED 202 and one for the OTFT 200. A planarisation layer 204 (also acting as a passivation layer) is deposited over the OTFT 200. Exemplary passivation layers 204 include BCBs and parylenes. The organic light emitting device 202 is fabricated over the passivation layer 204 and the anode 116 of the organic light emitting device 202 is electrically connected to the drain electrode 112 of the OTFT 200 by a conductive via 206 passing through passivation layer 204 and bank layer 124.

It will be appreciated that pixel circuits comprising an OTFT and an optically active area (e.g. light emitting or light sensing area) may comprise further elements. In particular, the OLED pixel circuits of Figures 5 and 6 will typically comprise least one further transistor in addition to the driving transistor shown, and at least one capacitor. It will be appreciated that the organic light emitting devices described herein may be top or bottom- emitting devices. That is, the devices may emit light through either the anode or cathode side of the device. In a transparent device, both the anode and cathode are transparent. It will be appreciated that a transparent cathode device need not have a transparent anode (unless, of course, a fully transparent device is desired), and so the transparent anode used for bottom-emitting devices may be replaced or supplemented with a layer of reflective material such as a layer of aluminium.

Transparent cathodes are particularly advantageous for active matrix devices because emission through a transparent anode in such devices may be at least partially blocked by OTFT drive circuitry located underneath the emissive pixels as can be seen from the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6. Thicknesses of the gate electrode, source and drain electrodes may be in the region of 5 - 200nm, although typically 50nm as measured by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), for example.

Other layers may be included in the device architecture. For example, in addition to providing a self assembled monolayer (SAM) on the gate, source or drain electrodes one may be provided on the, substrate, insulating layer and organic semiconductor material to promote crystallinity, reduce contact resistance, repair surface characteristics and promote adhesion where required. In particular, the dielectric surface in the channel region may be provided with a monolayer comprising a binding region and an organic region to improve device performance, e.g. by improving the organic semiconductor's morphology (in particular polymer alignment and crystallinity) and covering charge traps, in particular for a high k dielectric surface. Exemplary materials for such a monolayer include chloro- or alkoxy-silanes with long alkyl chains, e.g. octadecyltrichlorosilane.

No doubt many other effective alternatives will occur to the skilled person. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments and encompasses modifications apparent to those skilled in the art lying within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An organic semiconducting device comprising an organic semiconducting compound of formula (I):

where Ar₁, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ independently comprise monocyclic aromatic rings and at least one of Ar₁, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ is substituted with at least one substituent X, which in each occurrence may be the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of (i) optionally substituted straight, branched or cyclic alkyl chains with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy, amino, amido, silyl or alkenyl, or (ii) a polymerisable or reactive group selected from the group consisting of halogens, boronic acids, diboronic acids and esters of boronic acids and diboronic acids, alkylene groups and stannyl groups, and where Ar₁, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ may each optionally be fused to one or more further rings, and wherein at least one of Ar₁, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ comprises a heterocyclic aromatic group.

2. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a further aryl group Ar₅ is fused with Ar₃ to provide a structure of formula (II):

wherein Ar₅ represents a monocyclic aromatic ring optionally substituted with one or more substituents X.

3. A device according to Claim 2 wherein the aryl group Ar₅ comprises heterocyclic aromatic group.

4. A device according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein Ar₄ is fused to a further aryl system Ar₆ to provide a structure of formula (III):

wherein Ar₆ represents a monocyclic aromatic ring optionally substituted with one or more substituents X.

5. A device according to Claim 4 wherein aryl system Ar₆ comprises a heterocyclic aromatic group.

6. A device according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein Ar₅ is fused to a further aryl system Ar₇ to provide a structure of formula (IV):

wherein Ar₇ represents a monocyclic aromatic ring optionally substituted with one or more substituents X.

7. A device according to Claim 6 wherein aryl system Ar₇ comprises a heterocyclic aromatic group.

8. A device according to any preceding Claim wherein the semiconducting compound comprises the structure:

where Xi and X₂ may be the same or different and are selected from substituents X.; Zi and Z₂ are independently S, O, Se or NRi, and where Wi and W₂ are independently S, O, Se, NRi or -CRi=CRi-, where Ri is H or a substituent group.

9. A device according to any preceding Claim wherein the semiconducting compound comprises the structure:

where V₁ and V₂ are independently S, O, Se or NR₁, and where W₁ and W₂ are independently S, O, Se, NRi or

where R₁ is H or a substituent group..

10. A device according to any preceding Claim wherein the semiconducting compound comprises the structure:

11. A semiconducting compound according to any of the preceding claims wherein the semiconducting compound comprises the structure:

wherein Xi-X₁₀, which may be the same or different, are selected from substituents X.

12. A device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the compound comprises an oligomer or polymer.

13. A thin film transistor comprising a device according to any preceding Claim.

14. An optical device comprising a thin film transistor according to Claim 13.

15. An electroluminescent device comprising a thin film transistor according to Claim 13.

16. A solution for forming a thin film transistor, the solution comprising a solute comprising an organic semiconducting compound of formula (I):

where Ar_if Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ independently comprise monocyclic aromatic rings and at least one of Ari, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ is substituted with at least one substituent X, which in each occurrence may be the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of (i) optionally substituted straight, branched or cyclic alkyl chains with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy, amino, amido, silyl or alkenyl, or (ii) a polymerisable or reactive group selected from the group consisting of halogens, boronic acids, diboronic acids and esters of boronic acids and diboronic acids, alkylene groups and stannyl groups, and where Ari, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ may each optionally be fused to one or more further rings, and wherein at least one of Ari, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ comprises a heterocyclic aromatic group.

17. A solution according to Claim 16 comprising a solvent selected from the group comprising substituted benzenes, preferably benzene substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen and alkyl.

18. A method for forming a transistor comprising applying a solution according to Claim 16 or Claim 17 to a substrate.

19. A method according to Claim 18 wherein the solution is applied by ink-jet printing.

20. A method for synthesising a semiconductive compound, the method comprising fusing one or more further aryl groups to a compound comprising the structure:

where Z₁ and Z₂ are independently S, O, Se, NRi or NCH, where Ri is H or a substituent group, and Xi and X₂ which may be the same or different, are selected from substituents X as defined in Claim 1; and wherein the one or more of the further aryl groups may be heterocyclic.

21. A method according to Claim 20 wherein the fused compound is synthesized by means of a Suzuki coupling reaction.

22. A semiconductive compound comprising a structure selected from

23. An organic semiconducting compound comprising a single bond or divalent linker group linking two units of formula (I):

wherein Ari, Ar₂, Ar₃ and Ar₄ are as defined in any previous claim and each unit of formula (I) is the same or different.